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Fair finishes fine

Aaron Lucke of Stoneybrook Farm in Wynndel introduces two of the ten Icelandic sheep he brought to the Spring Farm Fair, Saturday at the Pass Creek Fairgrounds.

— image credit: Jim Sinclair

Another event appears set for annual status at the Pass Creek Fairgrounds, and judging by the initial staging of the Spring Farm Fair on May 3, good groundwork has been done toward a successful, ongoing attraction.

Prime organizer Donna Smith says it was felt by a number of locals that a spring event would draw well considering the consistently good attendance at the fall fair. Interest in rural topics remains strong and it was apparently expressed this past weekend.

During a fairly damp period the fair did fairly well, weather-wise, and Smith feels the effort in getting the event together was worth it.

“We’re really pleased,” she reported on Monday, “we had farmers from Fauquier, Cranbrook, Creston, Grand Forks, up the Valley… local. It was really well attended. We got to meet each other and find out what everybody had in their back yards. We exchanged information… how to help one another… where to source different things we’re looking for.”

At least one participant (a letter writer from Creston) felt compelled to share their positive fair impressions with the public. The correspondent is sure to be taking part, quite likely as a volunteer.

Smith declared that the first run was definitely worthy of a follow-up, and that attention toward the second annual running ought to begin in earnest shortly after the dust settles from this year’s fall fair.

Smith says she was able to round up initial support from family members and she’s pleased to hear assurances from would-be volunteers in regard to next year’s event.

“Everybody wants to know where their food comes from,” She concluded on May 5. “They’re really interested in how animals are treated… if their chickens are free range… I think they just don’t like the big commercial farms because the animals aren’t treated as well as they are in a small back-yard. They’re near and dear to the farmer who’s raising them.”

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